The Fox 33 



evident from the woodchuck's movements that the 

 mother fox had not injured the prey. It was amus- 

 ing to see the antics of the young foxes. They were 

 very cautious at first in their approach. Sometimes 

 in their haste to retreat they fell over each other as 

 the woodchuck made a dash for them. The old fox 

 had to recapture the woodchuck several times and 

 on the last occasion killed it, whereupon the little ones 

 enjoyed a good feast. 



I have yet to know a den of foxes that so regularly 

 and systematically drew for its supply of food upon 

 one poultry yard as did this one. The fowls being 

 allowed to run at large, the ducks and hens and par- 

 ticularly the turkeys often strayed some little distance 

 away. A greater part of the missing fowls were 

 taken during the day, for at night they were shut in 

 the poultry house, or, as in the case of the turkeys, 

 were out of harm's way, high in the trees near the 

 garden. Matters went from bad to worse. And when 

 my favorite Dorking cock was served to the young 

 foxes, it was too much! Straightway the foxes were 

 dug out and the young were given away as pets. The 

 old foxes were not killed, but after the day the young 

 were taken I do not know tliat I saw the parents 

 again. At dusk that evening I saw a shadowy form 

 near the little house which had been prepared for one 



